Attempting NaNoWriMo for the first time this year, 2011. Wish me luck!
Dr. Tim’s Neurotic Rules of Ficly Life
[Disclaimer: This is not intended to be binding nor in any way an expectation of general members of Ficly, league members, family members or wearers of Member’s Only jackets]
1. Comment to Story posting ratio must exceed 5:1. Goal is 10:1. In other words, I write a story then find five others (at least) upon which to comment before writing another.
2. For every solo shot or sequel of my own material, I must write a sequel or prequel to the work of another author. If I’m going easy on myself, participating in a challenge also fulfills this requirement.
3. If someone comments on one of my stories, I go find one of theirs upon which to comment. It only seems fair, and I like to think it encourages commenting.
4. Awesomeness is the goal, always. Call me on it when I fail, please.
5. Clearly mark mature content and err on the side of caution.
6. Golden Rule remains in effect for all sequels, prequels, and comments.
Stories
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They Said It Was Going Better
In the dark of the pod, Bondar stewed, helped in no small measure by the rising temperature. Hadn’t the trial gone better? They showed me the vids. There were crowds of supporters, rallying to my cause. Weren’t there? The accelerator thrumm...
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What We Seek
“Ghost-men should pray and seek the…” A sharp voice cut his sentence short, “Ortiz, what are you mumbling about? Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t care. Get that knot undone and get in.” The silence of a wet daw...
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Justice, Retribution, and Shut Up
Beaming and struggling to contain excitement the younger fellow whispered inreverentially, “It’s a good day for justice, eh Big D?” Big D rolled his eyes, mostly on account of the fact that no other soul in all creation referred to hi...
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In The Wrong Moment
It’s late. Nobody knows where I am. My eyes drift this way and that, the focus shifting between the imperfections of the windshield and the infinitely distant stars. The immediacy and potential of the situation presses in upon me. The expanse of ...
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No Crap Today, Possibility of Later Crap
As his partner snapped the outdated cell phone shut Herb Melcher flinched. It was a tiny noise in the midst of the spattering rain and passing cars. All the same, he knew what it meant. “Herb,” the younger detective pronounced, “We...
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Blurry Cartoon Faces
The family reunion swirls around me. The occasional looks of pity are because I’m 37 and live with a half dozen cats. They don’t know that… BUZZ! So tired. My lips purse tightly. My breath catches. I have to smile and nod as some rand...
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Gonnadie is So a Word
Running without looking, having already leapt without thinking, Tom surges through a mass of clinging, scraping hands. A hail of Spanish swear words and bullets fly over his head. The burrito in his gut threatens a repeat appearance. “I’m g...
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Simple Request Regarding Natural Production
Jose leads the solemn procession of three out of the saloon, down a dusty street, and into the inferno of the desert. Though the sun dips low, the heat remains, even seems to grow. They plod stoicly forward, Tom a bewildered and semi-willing participan...
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Getting a Grip
I was never much for romance. Love, that heady, all-encompassing sort of thing had mostly eluded me. After Katherine’s death I felt no remorse; she had made her choice. At the funeral I showed an appropriately affected visage; we’d been off...
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One More Beer
“Sweetie, sweetie? You innair?” His face was practically touching hers, the heady aroma of whiskey washing over her face to mix with the barley scent of ales, beers, and lagers. She offered a smile of recognition to which he responded with ...
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Old Sayings Often Inapplicable
“Hey Steven, whatcha doin?” “Well, you know how it is, Bob. Life gave me a whole bunch of lemons, so…” Bob let that hang for a moment before pushing further, “Yeah, I can see that. So, you’re making…̶...
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Semi-Conversations and Full Fledged Fear
Face smeared with grease and mouth full, Tom turns to see the saloon doors swing open. A shadow of a man enters the establishment. He fills the place. He is no more than a wisp. There is nothing to his visage, and within one can read the whole of human...
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Medley in the Key of Sadness
Kevin sulked down the sidewalk, kicking pebbles and acorns as he went. He wanted to be mad, but the only legitimate target for his anger was his own foolishness. Sure, there were ways to reframe the whole ugly incident, make it her fault instead. That ...
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Burning, Burning, Burning for You
Rae sulked. Violet stood motionless in the night, able in her mechanical way to wait patiently for her point to be made. From within she detected humming, a melody so ancient her immediate data banks didn’t contain the reference. With a melanchol...
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Confirmations of Previous Assumptions
Two steps in, and the air felt different, warmer and tingly. Eight steps in, and Alex was reasonably sure the school was no longer behind them, though he dared not look back to confirm. Just over a dozen steps in, and they were holding hands. Alex thou...
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Redux on Classic Service
“Whoa…” Devin’s voice was breathy and trailed away to nothing through his gaping mouth. Arnie just kept blinking and fiddling with the zipper on his hoodie, a nervous habit. The eight foot tall fellow with blue skin and horrendo...
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Weirdness Abounding
While rolling his eyes at Janine’s troublesome assumption, Alex spied the edge of the woods. Even in the dark he could tell. The plants were wrong. The ground was darker, not the usual reddish stuff that stained so many of his pants and shoes. Th...
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What's Gonna Work?
Grim and wary, Charles challenged, “So, what’s it gonna be?” Denton grinned, the first he’d smiled in weeks, “Absolutely.” With that, both men lowered their weapons and continued scavenging the remnants of the charre...
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Clinging to New Need
Still half watching the game that would decide the fate of his fifty bucks, Brad answered his cell, “Hello, this is…” A breathy voice cut him off, “I need you.” Eyes wide, he checked the phone. Unlisted number, already hun...
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Pay the Universe No Heed
I slowly lift the rifle, lifeless in my hands but ready to bark at my command. For a moment I see my prey, a fleeting glimpse of too much flesh for so unsightly a man before my view goes white. I see nothing. All of existence is momentarily gone. Blink...
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One Way to Derail a Conversation
Sunset cast a rolling sea of smoke and smog in hellish oranges and yellows. Denton smiled, as he felt oddly at home. Errol disrupted the reverie, “Mind the cargo ship at 10:30. Looks like he aims to cut across.” The ship looked more like a ...
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Making Progress
“I’m just saying,” Errol hollered over the clangs and hisses, “It’s bloody inefficient.” Denton blinked from behind his goggles and adjusted his grip on the wheel. He made no response but gave a brass outlet valve a ...
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Getting What's Not
Trees tower above, swaying across a grim sky. They have names I don’t know and reach towards clouds that sail by unheeding. The life that resides within their branches chitters and twerps in defiance of the season. My face feels tight, pinched by...
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Nighttime Leakage and Other Embarrasments
Marjorie awoke to the tinny whinnie of a miniature unicorn prancing across the pillow. Billowing pink clouds the size of sandwiches wafted over from the other side of the bed. A host of doe-eyed satyrs danced and cavorted in the stallion’s glowin...
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Why Don't You Write Me?
Impatient with the steady clack of hoofbeats on the hard trail I nudged Emily to a trot. I knew the noise would draw Ernesto out to meet me. The look on his face, sauntering into the equitorial swelter told me I had no need to dismount. “No lette...
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End of an Era
The two men stared at each other. One word hung in the air between them, a big declaration occupying such a small space and making the gulf feel impassable. Around them the party continued, oblivious and innocuous. Dennis flinched first, breaking eye c...
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Intrusion to Solitude
“Thought I’d find you here.” I hear her. I refuse to really listen. My trajectory takes me right past her, but I refuse to alter course, to acknowledge her presence. I don’t want to admit the connection or any connection for tha...
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Holding the Wind (Tanka)
Your love is but need To hold you is to hold wind Beauty, force, and cold No returned embrace but sting Your need eternal I can’t hold your gale
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What He Would Want
I stood, though my gaze and my heart remained on the stone floor. Attempts to wipe the tears from my eyes only succeeded in smudging gray and black across my face, a sad raccoon in tattered armor. The night’s clouds parted allowing the moon smile...
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Travelling Companions
5.7 cm long. .9 cm across. Brass, steel, and powder. I love you. I imbue you with power and with luck. You, me, and your 19 friends we’ll take on the world. Tiny soulless pillar of strength, you don’t feel fear or even worry. To you the odd...
